What car to carry my bike?

allen-uk

We've got a smallish MPV (Nissan Tino) into which I CAN cram my Wisper, but it is very hard work, so I was wondering what sort of vehicle (without going up to a Transit!) would be easier.

I'm thinking of Galaxies, or Espace, or similar - something where the seats come out (only two of us) with loads of headroom for wheeling bike (or even bikes) into the back.

Any ideas? (And no, far too old, Wisper's far too heavy, for roof-rack, I'm afraid).


Allen.

smidsy

Galaxy, Espace and similar vehicles are fine for that.

Used to get motorcycles in that sort of vehicle with the seats out.

markos1963

I've always reckoned a Fiat Multipla might be the best for my family. As there is just the wife and my son we can all sit in the front and the bikes can fit easily in the back with the seats permanently folded down. Only trouble is the wife absolutely hates them She wants us to have a Mini One :shock:

Marcryan206

Iv got a zafira and it fits my XL Frame in fine with the back seats pushed forward and could fit more in!

boogi11

Mercedes vito sport, 5 seats, 160bhp, 6 bikes in the back no problem , chrome bars.

bernithebiker

Honda CRV (2009 on). Takes my road or MTB in one swallow, just slots in nice and easy, no wheels off, nothing.

smidsy

markos1963 wrote:

I've always reckoned a Fiat Multipla might be the best for my family. As there is just the wife and my son we can all sit in the front and the bikes can fit easily in the back with the seats permanently folded down. Only trouble is the wife absolutely hates them She wants us to have a Mini One :shock:

Your wife at least has taste...Fiat Multipla (apart from being a Fiat) is the ugliest motor known to man.

Kind of like a wide mouth frog. :shock:

ilm_zero7

there is another thread on this about 3 months ago - my answer is the same - a VW Passat CC - takes my race bike (56) without taking a wheel off !, and its a car , not a 4x4

allen-uk

Thanks for the ideas.

(Oh, and I would LOVE a Multipla - might be ugly, but I find it a breath of fresh thinking, away from the usual fashion-conscious look of cars - trouble is, they don't do automatics, and having lost a leg (careless) I can't do manuals any more).

A

Mikey41

Skoda Roomster

Rear seats can be removed completely and they do a mount that the forks of the bikes will attach to, allowing you to transport 2 bikes in the back standing up. With some room left for luggage. They have an auto in the range too.

Monty Dog

Loads, particularly van based conversions like Berlingos, Fiat Doblos etc are the most practical as you can stand the bike up in the back.

markos1963

smidsy wrote:

markos1963 wrote:

I've always reckoned a Fiat Multipla might be the best for my family. As there is just the wife and my son we can all sit in the front and the bikes can fit easily in the back with the seats permanently folded down. Only trouble is the wife absolutely hates them She wants us to have a Mini One :shock:

Your wife at least has taste...Fiat Multipla (apart from being a Fiat) is the ugliest motor known to man.

Kind of like a wide mouth frog. :shock:

I love ugly motors, probably goes back to my punk roots and a love of things that go against the grain.

Strith

People on this forum can't agree on what bikes are good, let alone cars.

All thats important is that the bikes on the roof are worth more than the car.

Churchill123

Range rover takes my bike perfectly well

Briggo

allen-uk wrote:

We've got a smallish MPV (Nissan Tino) into which I CAN cram my Wisper, but it is very hard work, so I was wondering what sort of vehicle (without going up to a Transit!) would be easier.

I'm thinking of Galaxies, or Espace, or similar - something where the seats come out (only two of us) with loads of headroom for wheeling bike (or even bikes) into the back.

Any ideas? (And no, far too old, Wisper's far too heavy, for roof-rack, I'm afraid).


Allen.

My 3 series Beemer touring easily gets 2 or 3 bikes & kit without wheels off with seats down, 2 people in front.

Why on earth would you need something like a galaxy.

plymouthsteve

Citroen C3 Picasso, for leaving as much cash as possible for the more important things in life.. i.e. anything bike related.
Cheap tax / insurance/ fuel consumption, lots of toys, flexible loading area and yes. you all know it by now but I'm a car dealer and I've got a few! Got other things too, so this is good advice.

MattyyP

Briggo wrote:

allen-uk wrote:

We've got a smallish MPV (Nissan Tino) into which I CAN cram my Wisper, but it is very hard work, so I was wondering what sort of vehicle (without going up to a Transit!) would be easier.

I'm thinking of Galaxies, or Espace, or similar - something where the seats come out (only two of us) with loads of headroom for wheeling bike (or even bikes) into the back.

Any ideas? (And no, far too old, Wisper's far too heavy, for roof-rack, I'm afraid).


Allen.

My 3 series Beemer touring easily gets 2 or 3 bikes & kit without wheels off with seats down, 2 people in front.

Why on earth would you need something like a galaxy.

I think for some reason he wants to stand them up in the back, and unless you have pretty small framed bikes that isn't possible in most estates...

tonyf34

I drive a VW Passat estate, with the back seats down and front wheels off & seatpost removed or lowered you can get 3 bikes in the back easily and have space for bags etc.
If just one bike I can lay it flat as is in the boot, again with the seats folded down.
My older 2001 tdi easily gets 47mpg yearly average (due to a fair few short journey'ss for some chariddy work I do) and runs partly on veggie oil(up to 25% in the summer). Reliable as anything, it's never not started first time. comfortable over long trips and has enough get up and go for overtaking and mine is the lowest powered 100bhp variant.
The newer versions are fine too but a bit iffy on straight veggie oil...lol

allen-uk

Still good ideas, but if I can tighten the spec. once more:

I am old, unfit, not strong. I don't want to be lifting too much, or taking front wheels off, or laying bikes on their sides. I want a vehicle where I can lift the bike, in one piece, into the back, and wheel it all the way in.

I don't care about fashion, or beemers (spelling?), or boys toys - past all that, thank gord.

I DO need an automatic, due to absence of left leg.

On with the dance.


A

pdw

Ah - we're talking about an e-bike... now I understand why you want to wheel it in.

Have you looked at tow bar mount carriers? Some of the newer ones are rated for ebikes and you can get ramps for them. Just make sure that the car's tow bar rating is up to it.

allen-uk

No, haven't look at tow-bar mounts, but it's a thought. The Wisper isn't horribly heavy - but at about 23kg certainly more than most bikes.

A

Briggo

allen-uk wrote:

Still good ideas, but if I can tighten the spec. once more:

That would have helped at the start yes.... :roll:

Then if that's the case what you've already suggested is suitable and you already have a good idea of what you need.

allen-uk

allen-uk wrote:

We've got a smallish MPV (Nissan Tino) into which I CAN cram my Wisper, but it is very hard work, so I was wondering what sort of vehicle (without going up to a Transit!) would be easier.

I'm thinking of Galaxies, or Espace, or similar - something where the seats come out (only two of us) with loads of headroom for wheeling bike (or even bikes) into the back.

Any ideas? (And no, far too old, Wisper's far too heavy, for roof-rack, I'm afraid).

I was trying to be kind, son - I already HAD told my tale, and was trying to avoid having a dig at people for not reading it.

Ah well.

A

smidsy

allen-uk wrote:

No, haven't look at tow-bar mounts, but it's a thought. The Wisper isn't horribly heavy - but at about 23kg certainly more than most bikes.

A

Typically tow balls can take 85 to 105 kg and your car handbook will give you the correct figures for your particular vehicle, so should not be an issue.

Briggo

allen-uk wrote:

I was trying to be kind, son - I already HAD told my tale, and was trying to avoid having a dig at people for not reading it.

Clearly you didn't hence why you had to explain further and people did read it, you just didn't give the why.

The why was the important part, people think they need something when they don't. Throwing money at a large MPV to stand bikes up just because is illogical, however you have a logical reason to need something like that.

As I said what you suggested is pretty much what you need so you already have a good idea, the option of a towbar carrier is there if you don't mind them being external.

allen-uk

Ah, the unheady whiff of testosterone. One of the few (very few) benefits of being old - it goes.

A

de_sisti

Briggo wrote:

My 3 series Beemer touring easily gets 2 or 3 bikes & kit without wheels off with seats down, 2 people in front.
Why on earth would you need something like a galaxy.

That's music to my ears Briggo. I too, have a 3 series 320d bmw Touring (having upgraded from a SEAT Arosa
with towbar and Thule 9402 bike carrier). On my holiday to France later this year I'll have two bikes (wheels on)
and suitcases with the back seats down. Sounds good.

Guanajuato

We've got a (3rd gen) Berlingo. We can get 3 bikes in, stood up (one with wheel off, one a 24" child's bike) with only one of the back seats out. Can get 2 adult bikes in with wheels on and still have enough room for 4 people and other stuff. Getting three bikes in takes a bit of fiddling to align pedals an handlebars. Could probably get a tandem in if I remove the centre seat and don't mind a wheel between the front seats. And the Huge boot lid means you're sheltered from the rain whilst you're getting everything in/out. Pug Partner is the same car with a few added bits of plastic to make it look more rugged and a price tag a couple of grand higher. Older shape ones are a bit smaller.

And all for the price of a base spec astra. We get mid-40s mpg. Granted, its a bit boring, but what practical car isn't?

rodgers73

What about a small van for trips with the bikes and an ordinary car for "normal" driving?